Maintenance chrysotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis: a comparison of 2 dose schedules.
Maintenance treatment with chrysotherapy was given to 44 rheumatoid patients after a total of 1.0 g weekly injections of sodium aurothiomalate. 21 patients continued with 50 mg injections every 2 weeks, and 23 patients received the same dose at 4-week intervals. Their progress was followed over 1 year, after which time their clinical improvements were equally well sustained. Toxicity was greater in those patients receiving fortnightly injections. Five patients suffered a relapse after 8 months. These were not related to the frequency of injections nor to the serum gold levels. There appeared to be no advantage in maintenance injections at fortnightly intervals.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate